Vehicle pillar



April 23; 1935. ojF. GRAEBNER VEHICLE PILLAR 9 Filed July 22, 1952 y ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 23, 1935 'PATENT omc-E Y VEHICLE PILLAR Otto F. Graebner, Detroit, Mich.,4 assigner to The Murray Corporation of America, a corporation of rDelaware l Application July 22, 1932, Serial No. 624,031

s claims. (o1. 296-28) My invention relates to pillars for vehicle bodies and particularly to a pillar formed by a pillar member and facing element which is stamped from the body paneling.

It has been the practice heretofore to preform a pillar for va vehicle body from sheet material and so form the body paneling as to rcover the outer portionv of the pillar to constitute a nish therefor. l yThepillar"construction is materially simplified when `the paneling itself is vextended to form the door jamb of the pillar and to lreinforce a pillar member constructed in accordance with my present invention.

The mainv objects of my invention are; to construct the yfacing element4 for a pillarjof a 'vehicle body by extending the paneling at the door openingyto provide a pillar member which is' assembled in predetermined relation' to the facing element; to provide struck out portions on the' pillar 4`member by which a tacking strip is secured thereto; and in general to provide a pillar which is simple in assembly, economical in manufacture and sturdy of construction.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for abetter understanding of my invention, to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken view,

in elevation, of a pillar embodying features of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, taken on the line 2-2 thereof,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 3 3 thereof,

Fig. 4. is a sectional View of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, taken on the line 4-4 thereof,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 5-5 thereof,

and

trated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a top plan rView of the structure illus- Referring to Fig. l, I have illustrated a side panel I for a vehicle body having a window opening II, closed by a window glass I2 which may be lowered between an inner panel I3 and the panel I0 in a conventional manner, through the adjustment of an operating handle I4. A wheel housing panel I extends along the bottom of the panel I0 to which a pillar I8 is attached to form one side of the rear door opening. Hinge elements I1 are secured to the pillar to support a door for swinging movement, the limit of move-v ment of which is controlled by a check element I8 of a Well known type.

vThe panel I0 Aextendsinwardly, at I9, to form the window opening Iipfandis extended at 2 I in theplane of the window l2 and further at 22, inwardly of the body, to form the .side and bottom of a glass run channel for `the window. Along the edge of the door opening the panel l0 i extends inwardly, at 23 parallel to the extensionv 22' to form the door jambg A pillar* member 24 is disposed between vthe extensions 22 and 23, as i illustrated moreclearly in Figr, constituting a unit'pillar with the extensions 2,2 and 23, Ywhich is, of considerable' strength inA lView of the rigid box section `structure Vformed thereby when welded or otherwise secured together;

The pillar member 2li' is of channel section having bottom web 25 and side webs 25, which are laterally projected to form flanges 2l to be secured to the` extension A23 of the panel I0, the extension 22beingsecured tothe web 25. Along the corners'formed by 'the webs 2li and the flanges 2l, spaced'pressed out portions 28 are provided for strengthening the member 24. Tongues 23 are provided in extension of the flange 2l disposed inwardly of the vehicle body and tongues 3I are struck from the web 2B which are likewise disposed inwardly of the body. A tacking strip 32 is disposed between the flange 21 and the tongues 3| after which the tongues 29 are bent over the tacking strip, as illustrated in Fig. 4, while nails or other securing means y33 are driven through apertures in the tongue 3| into the tacking strip.

At the upper hinge support, the flanges 2l and the webs 26 are bent inwardly, at 34, from the extension 23 of the panel, as illustrated in Fig. l, for receiving the hinge element I1, and the web portions 26 are drawn closer together, at 35, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to provide clearance for nuts 36 which are secured to the flanges 2l. In a similar manner, to form the lower hinge support, the outer flange 2l and web portion 26 are offset inwardly from the extension 23, as v illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. The web 26 is reversely bent, as illustrated in Fig. 5, to form a pocket for receiving a nut 36 and to provide clearance for the door check element I3. The pillar member 24 has the Ranges 2'! thereof extending inwardly of the body, at 3l, and the vweb portion 25 extended in the same direction, at 28, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2, for engagement with a metal, rolled top rail 39. The rolled metal rail is secured to the wood rail lII by bolts 42, forming a composite rail for the body.

The pillar thus constructed is novel in that the panel of the vehicle body is preformed and extended inwardly of the vehicle to form a door jamb to abut against a pillar member positioned between the extensions at the window opening of the panel and the door jamb to strengthen the panel and to form a finished pillar. A tacking strip is secured to the reinforcing member by tongues struck from the pillar member which are folded thereover or secured by nails driven through the tongues into the tacking strip.

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of my invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the accompanying claims. Y

I claim as my invention:

l. A pillar for a vehicle bodyfformed by extensions of the body panel at the door and window openings, a pillar member of channel section having the sides flanged outwardly, and secured to said door extension by said flanges, and a tacking strip secured to the inner edge of said member.

2. A pillar for a vehicle body including, in combination, an extension ofthe panel of the body at the door opening to form the door jamb, an extension at the window opening of the body, a pillar member of channel section having the sides flanged outwardly disposed between the extensions at the door and window openings with the flangesengagingthe door jamb portion and the web engaging the extension at the window opening.

3. A pillar for a vehicle body including,Y in combination, an extension of the panel of the body at the door opening to form the door jamb, an extension at the window opening of the body, a pillar member of channel section engaged by the extensions at the door and window openings and secured to the latter by the web of said channel forming a unit construction, and a tacking strip secured to said pillar element.

4. A pillar for a vehicle body including, in combination, an extension on the body panel forming the door `jamb, a pillar member therefor having tongues extending therefrom toward the inside of the body, means for securing said member to said extension, and a tacking vstrip secured to said member' by said tongues.

5. A pillar for a vehicle body including in combination, an extension on the body panel forming the door jamb, a pillar member of channel section having the sides outwardly flanged and secured to said extension.

6. A pillar for a vehicle body including in combination, an extension on the body panel forming the door j amb, a pillar member of channel section havingthe sides outwardly iianged and secured to said extension, and tongues extending inwardly of the body from said member for receiving a tacking strip.

7. A pillar for a vehicle body including in combination, an extension on the body panel forming the door jamb, a pillar member of channel section having the sides outwardly flanged and secured to said extension, tongues extending-inwardlyV of the body from said member and a tacking strip nested between said tongues and secured thereby to said member. Y

' 8. A pillar for a vehicle body including in combination, an extension on the body panel forming the door jamb, a pillar member 'of channel section having the sides outwardly anged and secured to said extension, tongues extending from one of said flanges and from the channel section, and a tacking strip nested between said iiange and tongues and secured by said tongues to said member.

- OTTO F. GRAEBNER.

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